Field Study of Cockington Green Gardens †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Field Study of Cockington Green Gardens. Answer: Introduction Field work or field research is a collection of information gathered from laboratory, library and workplace settings. Pierre Bourdieu played an inevitable role in the overall popularization of the fieldwork in sociology. The fieldworks are mainly aimed at the economic and social factors of the human society (Swift, 2017). In addition to this, he also proposed some theories on how the social agents operate (Ball, 2013). The report throws light on a field study of Cockington Green Gardens that is conducted with the aim of knowing the development, structure and the social life of a particular set of individuals within the give place, social interactions and patterns of relationships and the functioning of the human society, at large. Observation According to three and a half hour observation, we found that a total of thirty two people visited the Cockington Green Gardens after purchasing tickets. The ticket price is 19.5 Australian dollars per person and the family ticket is 45 Australian dollars for three people. Therefore, an observation made here is that the individual tickets are more costly than a family ticket of three persons. Around fourteen cars were there in the garden, which included two BMW, three Toyota, four Holden, one Ford, two Honda, one Audi and one Volkswagen. According to personal impression, the cars were quite classy and expensive. Therefore, it gives detailed information regarding the social status of the visitors present there. I observed few statutes of the animals like ostriches and kangaroos represented the physical features present at the spot. There is a caf beside the statues which gives an idea of embracing the overall importance of mother earth and in a way it is a tourist spot. Moreover, the colorful flowers and green plants within the cafs environments were being taken good care and in addition to this, the caf offered good accommodation services. Furthermore, it offered very little carbonated drinks as it focused on natural ingredients more than artificial ones. In addition to this, natural milk ice creams were being served at the caf. The parking lot was soiled rather than being cemented. Last but not the least; the caf had more family visitors and old people in it, rather than the individual ones. It gave an impression that the caf embraced togetherness and families more. Features The Cockington Green Gardens is a sort of a park which had miniatures in it. It is basically a family owned property which has over four generation ownership. The overall setting of the park is purely based on nature and mother earth. The park is designed in such a way that it embraced a cool and composed environment that is very much necessary for fun, studying and also relaxing. Majority of the elements that was present in the garden are very much significant for interpreting the overall setting of the park. It consists of various miniature buildings of different styles and structures, designs and shapes. Other features which attract the tourists are various statues of animals and birds, representing them as an inevitable part of mother earth. In addition to this, many trees and greeneries are present in the gardens, representing vegetation as well as plantation. The controllable machines which are present on the ground give a description of human involvement, improvement and innovation for Mother Nature. Moreover, many visitors were present at the spot, who gave an idea of the social statuses from where they belong. It offered an impression concerning the social life of human beings. This sort of gardens and miniature parks gives an idea of the evolution of human life and their involvement, improvement and innovation on mother earth. Key actors I observed that the types of people present there were mostly the family members rather than individuals. The ticket price for the family members is also less than the individual ones. This represented that the park embraced family members more than individuals or couples. In addition to this, the visitors mostly bought their own cars, which represented that they belonged to the higher class of the society. Moreover, the family members and their kids were very much consistent all throughout the observation. They were keen to know what was going on and participated in a positive manner and took an active part in it. Organization From our observations it can be interpreted that the Cockington Green Gardens was mainly being attended by the families as well as couples. The park however, gave special offers to the family members and it targeted a certain class of people. The families wanted their kids to learn something from the park surrounded by Mother Nature. The people present their almost belonged to the same social life pattern and structure, which symbolized wealth and people having some extra penny for leisurely activities. In addition to this, Cockington Green Gardens also provided some accommodation services which are only associated with the people belonging to the wealthy social status. Furthermore, majority of the observations were made very closely in relation with the beauty of mother earth, nature, environment, ecology and agriculture as well. The green vegetation and plantations were surrounded by various trees and maize. Gardeners are also present at the spot, who takes good care and maintains the park, which highly represented the social life of the people living there. The park is well structured and it appreciates as well as accommodates the love for agriculture and nature as well. Other observables are the statues of various animals, farming machines, boats placed in cool water and others. The statues of kangaroos and other animals represented that they are a very important part of mother earth. The statues of farming machines and boats represented how human beings have evolved. Conclusion The observations that were being made in the entire project opened our minds and are considered to be very important for understanding the social life of human beings. It also helped us in gaining knowledge and experiences. It enabled us in understanding various aspects of life and moreover, it helped us in engaging into societal activities. The overall project proved to be beneficial for us. References Ball, S. J. (Ed.). (2013).Foucault and education: Disciplines and knowledge. Routledge. Swift, D. F. (2017).The sociology of education: introductory analytical perspectives(Vol. 54). Routledge. Akanle, O., Adebayo, A. A. (2013). Sociology of Development.Essentials of Sociology, 395-412. Andersen, M. L., Taylor, H. F. (2012).Sociology: the essentials. Nelson Education. Brinkerhoff, D. B., Ortega, S. T., Weitz, R. (2013).Essentials of sociology. Cengage Learning. Little, W., McGivern, R., Kerins, N. (2016).Introduction to Sociology-2nd Canadian Edition. BC Campus. Ritzer, G. (2015).Essentials of Sociology. Sage Publications. Wolfe, C., Callahan, J. S. (2017). Introduction to sociology.

Academic Essay Topics - Tips For Picking Great Essay Topics

Academic Essay Topics - Tips For Picking Great Essay TopicsMost aspiring teachers would agree that the most challenging academic essay topics are the writing process. There is nothing that can be as intimidating as having to turn in a dissertation or test paper after sitting through a grueling and sometimes frustrating lecture class. The reason why it's difficult to turn in an essay for a PTE exam, or the reason why teachers cringe when faced with a lecture-style paper for a short-answer or open-book exam, is because of all the preparation time.As you probably know, writing an essay is something that can't just be thrown together. It has to be perfect, and even more, you need to impress your professor and submit it quickly. There is no getting around the fact that if you don't have the proper resources, you'll have a much harder time than most students.There are plenty of resources out there for writers and professors alike, but some courses are better than others. If you have the me ans, then there is a good chance that you should skip the open book essay and go straight for the short-answer or PTE form. All you need to do is find the right resource to help you create the perfect essay for the exam. Here are some things to look for when choosing your PTE essay topics.The first thing you want to pay attention to is the writer's flow. This is most important when creating an academic paper since you will not be able to write until you get started. However, the pace of the essay will also play a huge role in how fast you will finish your essay.One other thing to look at is how you use sentence construction. Most essays end with a strong point statement, but this could just be a matter of a couple words here and there. You will want to put more emphasis on making your point and developing an argument than on making sure that your grammar is up to par.The most important piece of advice when picking essay topics is to make sure that you cover as many different topics as possible. Writing something over again can be exhausting, especially when it's just one topic at a time. It will also not allow you to think about the bigger picture and explore the ideas that you want to delve into.If you are thinking about a topic that you have never really tackled before, then maybe an essay topic that you've never written on before would be a good choice. Regardless, of the topic, the best way to ensure that you are writing an essay that you will enjoy, and that you can turn in and give your best grade on, is to make sure that you use the right resource.

Different Dining Experiences Essays - Latin American Cuisine

Different Dining Experiences Matt Smith Smith 1 Comp 1 Oswald Different Dining Experiences It can be very satisfying to sit down in front of a good meal and indulge in eating it. Eating is fun and plays a large role in every day life. During the preparation there are many choices one must make. What to eat? Where to eat? If one decides to go out, there are many different types of cuisines and restaurants to choose from. Say, for instance, a family wants to go out this Friday night for dinner. They come up with the following choices; a fine Italian restaurant, fine Mexican restaurant, or fine Chinese restaurant. In the process, the family compares the three with the following information. Italian Cuisine Usually, when dining at a fine Italian restaurant the atmosphere and dining experience can be fairly conservative, and is often quiet. There are romantic candles flickering, accompanied by soft music. The food is very delicious and tends to be a little rich. In most cases, the prices are somewhat expensive. The menu consists of the obvious: spaghetti, lasagna, some seafood dishes, and other meats depending what the specials are. The soup and salad are always served before the meal. The soup is a thin broth, full of tomatoes, celery, kidney beans, garbonzo beans and pasta pieces. It is common to leave an Italian restaurant feeling a little too full, because the food can be very filling. Mexican Cuisine You may want to research the menu thoroughly before deciding what to eat at a Mexican Restaurant. Everything is flavorful and very different. It tends to be on the spicier side, with dishes consisting of assorted peppers and other spices. There are dishes made of tortillas. Tortillas are a flat, circular, bread like objects. They are made out of flour and shortening. They can be filled with beans, meat, or cheese. Or your choice of meat or Smith 2 poultry. Often the meat is prepared as a fajita, where the meat, onions and peppers come out on a frying pan, sizzling in the oil in which they were cooked in. The meat may also be brought out tossed, and wrapped in tortillas. They are filled with other side items such as rice or beans. There is no salad or soup before your meal, but chips and salsa are always customary, and very good as an introductory appetizer while deciding your meal. Mexican food is tasty and authentic. But remember, there is a real kick to your meal with all those spices! Chinese Cuisine Oriental cuisine is usually very proper and elegant. It is generally quiet inside the restaurant and the authenticity of the dining experience plays an important role in your experience. Most dishes are prepared in a wok and tossed with different sauces. A wok is a large circular frying pan that sits on top of a flame and cooks the food. There are chicken, beef, egg, vegetable, pork, and shrimp dishes. With some occasional scallops, lobster, or crab chunks thrown in to make up the seafood dishes. It can sometimes be spiced up with Chinese peppers. These are long, skinny dark red peppers, that can be added upon your request to make your dish spicier. A Chinese meal tends to be a lengthy. Due to the time it takes to prepare the food. The pricing can vary, but in most cases is reasonable. Chinese food is very unique and delicious. As proven above, the three different types of food are all very unique in their own ways. They all carry certain traits that reveal there individuality. Nevertheless, they're all delicious, and can be a real treat to anyone with a big appetite. English Essays

Transitions words and phrases for essays †Pro-Academic-Writers.com

Transitions words and phrases for essays Academic and professional writing is immensely important component of college curriculum. Students are assigned to write extraordinary essays, good papers, conduct researches, analysis. Results should be presented in clear academic language. To convey ideas and points clearly, the experienced writer applies transition words and phrases. Transition words and phrases are important elements. They display relationships between different parts of one sentence or abstracts within one text. They help introduce idea, result, contrast, creating coherent text. Most students know that transition words and phrases are like bridges between long sentences. Numerous articles have been dedicated to this topic on trustworthy resources. It is the fact - not every student understands the difference. They tend to misuse words used to express different purposes or make connections between sentences. Following article will give you a better understanding of classification and usage of linking words. You will find how to write texts that are easy to read. HELP WITH MY PAPER Transition Words and Phrases Classification Correct usage of linking phrases depends on how well you understand their meaning. The better you know how to write paragraphs using them, the more effective it is. Each transition phrase has its purpose, idea and influence upon the reader; words can be split into four main categories with subcategories. In each category, the words are classified depending on what you (writer) want to show. Additive Transitions At large, category includes words and phrases that add idea, introduce or show similarity with something that has been mentioned in abstract or sentence before. The category is divided into six subcategories with various purpose and reason: addition introduction reference similarity identification clarification Sometimes students experience difficulties with words giving reference – speaking about (this), considering (this), with regards to (this), etc., which is basically the tool to return back to a specific idea, go forward, or emphasize the connection. Examples: Speaking about wedding, I loved the dress of the bride! John has never been to England before. Let alone, London. Doctor James spent three years working on his report; moreover, he did not ask anyone to help him. He did everything on his own. To tell the truth, I was reluctant that I was not invited to the dinner; I did not want to see his family. Merry was not a movie lover; for instance, last time we went to see a movie, she was complaining about neighbours eating popcorn. The contract covers force majeure cases, including fire, storm, heavy rains, and earthquakes. Adversative Transitions Adversative transitional words are used waiting for-and-against essays. To make the text coherent presenting contradictory points or facts, the writer uses adversative transitions. He/she introduces traditional view. He/she gives the reader a reasonable argument supporting another idea. Reading text, you can feel smooth transition from one sentence to another. This category lists words and phrases to make emphasis, present contrary arguments, make concession, dismissal, and, finally, replacement. Examples: Products grown without any biochemical are healthier. Yet, it is difficult to protect them from insects. It is difficult to find a good lawyer these days, but, once, you have found one, you will get a decent legal support regarding any matter. We have not received response form the commission yet. In any case, we will continue working on this project. The candidate must have a good command of Italian, or at least, upper-intermediate level to prepare and submit reports. GET YOUR A-GRADE Causal Transitions This category is subdivided into different subcategories to put emphasize and show cause, reason, effect, result, and purpose. These linking words present consequence and condition and create coherent relationships. Causal transitional phrases create smooth transition from one sentence to another; they make it understandable and logical to read. Examples: As a result of bad weather, numerous flights have been delayed. For the purpose of gathering technical staff members of the board, human resources department is obliged to reschedule our meeting. On condition that the results are positive, we will have a small party to celebrate. In order to get the parcel by the deadline, I called the agency twice but nobody answered. Sequential transitions The last important category left is sequential transitional words. The category includes subcategories, mainly, numerical, continuation, conclusion, digression, resumption, and summation categories. This group shows chronological sequence, summarizes what has been stated before, or help add logical sequence. Examples: First of all, I would like to express gratitude to everyone, who participated in this exhibition. To summarize, I would like to say that finally, we have made a great discovery that will help cure this disease. To get back to the point, please look at the second slide again. If you still in doubt and do not know how to use transitional elements properly - find professional writer's help! List of transition words and phrases Usage of Transitions Effectiveness of the text depends on correct usage of transition words. To present ideas clearly, writer should feel where to use specific word that will create a link. Excessive usage of transitions makes the text â€Å"cluttered†. Before you start working on your essay or paper, consider which ideas and the order in which you want to present them. Think of links you can use to make connection between ideas. Transitional words and phrases will help you create corresponding relationships. Do not forget about logical summary; it is important to remember - the same transition should not be used many times. Use words from the same category and subcategory, if you need to make a similar link. Instead of using the word â€Å"finally† twice, you can use â€Å"in summary† or â€Å"in conclusion†. HELP ME WRITE MY ESSAY The right usage of linking phrases will improve your academic writing skills and increase scores that your papers and essays get. Write texts that are efficient, easy to read and logical.

Blog Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words - 1

Blog - Coursework Example The effect of this is that global polity and affairs were modified to integrate and accept all peoples through the acceptance of human rights. This has led to the creation of laws that protect the minorities and allows people of all backgrounds to operate within societies. This has led to the creation of multicultural and multiracial societies around the world Naturally, diverse societies mean diverse markets. And the implication is that a bank will be serving customers of diverse backgrounds. Thus, diverse teams used in the banking sector implies that consumers are not going to be of one single background. Typically, a bank in London will serve not only Anglo-Saxon customers including English, Irish, Scot and Welsh customers. In the 21st Century, there are customers with diverse origins including Indians, Arabs, Afro-Caribbean, Chinese, Africans and a wide diversity of people. There is therefore the chance and opportunity for a diverse team to produce better results through the operation of a service that considers and integrates all people and all communities. Thus, in terms of marketing and income generation, diverse teams have a much better chance of surviving and producing optimum results ahead of non-diverse teams. In the technical sense, diversity in teams involve the presentation of people from diverse occupation backgrounds. This involves people who have different expertise and different competencies. Due to this, a leader is likely to have a pool of different competencies and different thinkers. This allows the team to get a wide range of people who can add up to a rich and a diverse group of conversations to deal with matters in a positive sense and manner. A common problem in the banking sector is what the experts term groupthink. Groupthink is defined by Johnson and Scholes (2012) as a situation whereby all group members tilt towards a given solution and members fail to think and analyse things critically before giving a decision. As

Analysis of Dubai Aviation Model. ( Paper subject is Strategy) Essay

Analysis of Dubai Aviation Model. ( Paper subject is Strategy) - Essay Example It is a major aviation hub in the Middle East, and is the main airport of Dubai, the second largest city of United Arab Emirates. Since the launching of Emirates, the national flag carrier of United Arab Emirates, in March 1985, according to Business Analysis, â€Å"Dubai-based Emirates Airline,. . . is one of the fastest growing and most consistently profitable carriers in aviation history†. With a start-up capital of $10 million and 2 leased airplanes from Pakistan International Airlines, which were subsequently returned in 1987, the airline has now grown to more than 148 fleets and still plans to have 320 by 2018 and 400 by 2020. Dubai International Airport is the home base of Emirates and is operated by the Department of Civil Aviation, a government owned company. Emirates by the way is managed by The Emirates Group under the holdings of Investment Corporation of Dubai, an investment arm of the government of Dubai. Based on the foregoing information, it is clear that the government of Dubai plays an important role in the success of the said entities. These two entities are crucial elements of Dubai’s growth and development. With Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 established in 2006 by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as the guiding principles in their strategies and decisions, goals and targets were accomplished accordingly. It is a preparation for Dubai for the post-oil era by firmly establishing it as a leading destination not only for tourists but also for trade fairs and conferences and other revenue generating centers such as professional services, financial, and logistics and distribution hub. This paper will explain the factors that account for the success of Dubai’s aviation sector. The Oxford Economics report that Dubai‘s aviation model works because of a combination of factors, including a national

Country Analysis of Immigration Policies

Country Analysis of Immigration Policies Throughout history, the handling of integration of immigrants in any country has been a pressing political issue. There is no exception in Europe. Although there has been a recent spike in favorable feeling towards minorities in Europe, there are still countries, such as Italy or Germany, that have a deep rooted hatred towards some groups. On the other hand, Countries like France, and Sweden have shown upward movement in the public opinion towards minority groups. Some of the more blatantly discriminated groups in Europe are people who identify as Muslim, and those who identify as Roma. These two groups have long heritages in Europe, and have faced discrimination throughout their history. Because France is has been noticeably proposing policies to help integrate the minority population, it serves as a good country to compare to those that hold a less favorable view on their minorities, such as Greece. The population of a country is key in defining an identity for that country, and so me countries try harder than others to alter who represents them. Although most countries in Europe have a problem integrating immigrants into their social and political systems, France has been a country that has shown the most potential for integration. The recent events occurring in Paris, involving Muslim radicals killing 13 political cartoonists, hasnt helped with integration, but the progress is more evident on other levels. A good benchmark in the upward trend of French opinion on minorities is when Nicholas Sarkozy took office in 2007. Three Muslims, Rama Yade, Rachida Dati and Fadela Amara, were named Secretary of State for Human Rights, Minister of Justice, and the Minister responsible for city housing, respectively. These are huge jobs that have major influence in policies that affect minorities. Part of having a collective identity is integrating the people who arent originally from the country being represented, and minority integration into the government of France is an enormous step forward towards full integration of minorities in France. â€Å"If three-quarters of naturalized immigrants â€Å"feel French,† nationality is not everything. The adoption of a French national feeling among non-naturalized immigrants is quite noteworthy here: more than half of non-naturalized immigrants feel French, and two-thirds of those from North Africa. If a result deserves comment, it is not the lack of adoption of national identity by immigrants and their descendants but rather the strength of that adoption† (Simon, 2012). This quote directly addresses the idea that French immigrants feel a sense of collective identity. In comparison to other countries, this number is very high, and has been increasing steadily. Another aspect that heavily affects the integration of immigrants into a given country is the accessibility of immigration. One of the biggest aspects of French immigration is the idea of duel-citizenship. This means citizens of foreign countries can hold their citizenship in that country, while also be coming a citizen of France. Although Poland holds a similar policy, France allows for an easier transition to citizenship as it promotes children who have been in France to remain in France, while allowing them to keep their original heritage. According to Simon, â€Å" . . . 64 percent of immigrants who arrived before the age of 10 acquired French citizenship, as did 53 percent of those who came between the ages of 10 and 16, and 32 percent of those who arrived after age 16† (Simon, 2012). The reason this information is important is because it shows people who immigrate to France embed their children with French ideas and culture enough that it becomes a part of their heritage. It shows that immigrants in France enjoy their roots in the country, and want to continue their lineage as French citizens. Immigration is an aspect of collective identity that identifies a countries acceptance, and the promotion of integration can lie within the immigration policies of a country. Like France, Germany has shown an upward movement in the general opinion on integration of immigrants, but the rich history of discrimination and the policies that still exist from it are hard to alter, thus making it hard to change opinions. German policy makers have attempted to change these embedded ideals, but their work is in the short term, when in actuality, a long term plan is heavily needed. Migration flows have been low over the past decade in Germany, (Rita, 2009) and this has caused policy makers to focus on other aspects of the country, which is detrimental as the policies made for immigration need to be long lasting and flexible with the tides of migration. Germany has made this mistake before, between 1950 and 1970. They ignored integration policies when there was a huge influx of guest workers immigrating to Germany, causing a greater social inequality for said workers. This ignorance of policy remained active until recently. The quality of immigrants has also never r eally been on Germanys side throughout its history. The recent swing from Turkish, low-skilled labor workers to European families shows very few high-skilled labor workers, also creating social disparity. This a big aspect of Germany that differs from France. While there is an influx of third-country nationalists in France, Germany has a very miniscule percentage of their immigrants coming from this category. Students of German heritage are much more likely to follow an education path than immigrant students, as well as immigrants being much more likely to be unemployed than non-immigrants. Another aspect affecting German immigrant integration is the economy. When the economy is poor in a country, the idea of locking up jobs for citizens is more favorable, and in January 2009, 8.3 percent of Germanys workforce was considered unemployed (Rita, 2009). This is a huge cause for concern because of the lack of policies that support integration. One of the best ways to overcome a deficit i s to understand that everyone is needed in a country, and increasing the workload for foreigners is a good way to strengthen the economy. The holes in the collective identity of Germany restrict the contribution of immigrants, and really allows the country to suffer as a result. Compared to France, Germany has marginally lower rates of naturalization, as well as stricter policies on voting, which shows a lack of inclusion in society for foreigners. These aspects, on top of very restricted work visa applications contribute to an aging society, a declining economy, and social inequality throughout Germany. Along with the recent decline of the Euro, and economies belonging to the European Union declining, the ECB, or European Central Bank has began a process of Quantitative-easing, which mean they will purchase 80 billion Euros worth of bonds from EU countries over the next 18 months to kick-start their economies. This has been met with mixed responses, most being good, yet there are some countries that feel that it is a bit over intrusive and that it will have an adverse effect. Two countries opposing each other on this issue are Greece and Italy. Both countries have their reasoning for their ideas on the policy, and both make good points to support their arguments. The president of each country have spoken out about the policy, making the outcry very political and important. The fall of the Euro has created a pressing issue for the ECB, and they have been attempting to determine the best plan of action in fixing its value. The plan they have proposed will attempt to bail out countries in debt buy purchasing a large amount of bonds from each one. Italys president, Pier Carlo Padoan, has spoken out in support of the plan saying it has â€Å" . . . already being successful through a declining euro.† Padoan said a â€Å"weaker euro is in line with the single currency area’s long-term economic outlook and will boost Italy’s recovery this year† (Rotondi, 2015). Padoan also says that the new plan will increase Italys GDP by a percent, as the new Euro trend promotes Italian export firms. Italys past few years of having an on and off declining economy fears that low rates of inflation will lead to high rates of deflation, and the new plan of QE will help reduce the risks of full deflation. One aspect of the plan says that it will incre ase the budget of Italys bank, while at the same time not exposing it to any new risks. This is key because when you change such a massive influence of money in an economy, there are usually risks associated with trading with new countries, larger debts, and other economic downfalls. The biggest upside to the QE program for Italy is that it will increase the banks interest in funding private organizations, increasing the value of financial activities. Greece is an example of a country that opposes the QE implemented by the CBE, and they have a few main arguments as to why they oppose it. As of March, 2015, they were not one of the countries included in the list to buy bonds from. This will change if the bonds they purchased from the ECB mature by this summer. Internally, Greece is dealing with their own bailout scheme they implemented that restricts their addition to the QE plan. Their biggest argument is that it does not promote private investing, which is what it aims to do. Greeces president, Yanis Varoufakis has openly stated â€Å"QE could prove both unsustainable and incapable of boosting private credit growth and investment in productive activities,† Varoufakis said. â€Å"Imagine an alternative plan to QE where the EIB will take its marching orders to lead an investment-led recovery for Europe. I’d like to call that the Merkel plan.† This shows the lack of trust that Greeces government has for the plan , and even though they are currently exempt from it, it also shows their mindset for controlling their own economy for the years to come. It is important for Greece to become a country being bailed out by the ECB because the bank no longer accepts Greek bonds, forcing them to rely on emergency liquid assistance, which is a more expensive and damaging asset. Both countries face strenuous economic conditions, and the plan proposed by the ECB seems to benefit most. Greece has internal issues that they must iron out before being included, but once they do it seems there is room for an upward trend in their economy. Minority groups attempting to define themselves in European countries is a long lasting fight that has led to many reforms in governments, as well as society itself. One minority group that is good to compare between countries is homosexuals. Homosexuals have been oppressed throughout history, and most European countries are no exception to this. In fact, how forward the Netherlands are in their policies on homosexuality makes them the perfect country to counter against a country with harsher ideals, such as Russia. Determining a countries collective identity begins with the people, and for a country to have a strong identity, they must recognize all of its people. If certain groups of people cannot be represented, it creates a gap in society, and allows for discrimination. Homosexuality has been an issue that every country has to face, as it is a way of life. Some countries handle it well, and include homosexuals in their identity, while others brush them under the table and hinder their representation. Russia has for a very long time been considered to have a conservative view on homosexuality. It wasnt until 1999 that being a homosexual was considered a mental illness. This absurd legislation was eventually changed, but the fact that it remained for such a long time is a bit unnerving. The problem stems from a long history of institutionalized discrimination towards the homosexual community. For example, the police in Russia does not keep records of hate crimes towards homosexuals, instead treating them as common crimes. Also, there have been numerous studies showing that in cases involving a homosexual victim, the police have exhibited a lack of interest towards closing the cases, and most of them do not even reach the courts. This disinterest towards homosexuals rights, supports the notion that it is institutionalized, and represents how harsh the treatment of the homosexual community is. Furthermore, the recent rise in radical groups labeling themselves as â€Å"social movemen ts† has shown no favorable attitudes towards homosexuals. A group named â€Å"Occupy Pedophiles† was created in 2012 to actively seek homosexuals and commit acts of violence towards them. Vigilante groups such as this one are becoming more common in Russia, as groups of people aim to prevent their children, and the future of the country from being subjected to homosexuality. The most recent issue involving homosexual rights in Russia came to light during the most recent Olympics. Russian legislation passed a law saying it is illegal to hand out homosexual â€Å"propaganda† to children, including hosting activist events and rallies. Also included was a law stating that same-sex couples could not adopt children. These are recent, relevant examples showing that Russia has not taken many strides towards equality. There is a large homosexuality community in Russia that in not represented, and fearful to express their views as it puts a target on their backs and remove s them from society. Its not until Russia reviews these laws that there will be a true representation of homosexuals, and until then, the countrys identity is blemished. The Netherlands on the other hand, has a long history of homosexual acceptance, and welcomes them into the identity created for Dutch society. As the first country in the world to adopt a policy of same-sex marriage, it has long been considered a front runner in not only European acceptance, but across the globe as well. In comparison the Russia, 30% of homosexuals feel some sort of discrimination (EUAFR, 2012). Also, according to the survey, The Netherlands have the highest percentage of population that supports homosexuals living as they wish. With collective identity as the issue, this shows that the people of The Netherlands accept homosexuals into their society, allowing them to be a part of their identity. The greatest aspect of this tolerance is shown in the fact that even though they are considered heavily progressive when it comes to homosexual rights, The Netherlands is still proposing policies that will strengthen relations within itself and with other countries. This init iative remains constant with their stance on the issue throughout history, and promotes equality for the present and future. According to the LGBT and Gender Equality Policy Plan of the Netherlands 2011 – 2015, one of the main focuses of strengthening homosexual relations involves increasing social awareness. Their two main points of focus are: increasing the rights of same-sex couples and the legal parenthood that comes with it, as well as increasing homosexual equality. The first issue addresses the fact that kids raised in homosexual households should have the same status as those raised in heterosexual ones. This key to developing the future citizens ideas on how identity works in their country. If kids grow up separated from other kids because their parents are homosexuals, it creates alienation which alters identity. The second aspect handles more administrative business of homosexual equality. For example, homosexual men may not donate blood, due to the higher risk of STDs. There are a few countries in Europe that allow this under certain conditions, so the plan will attempt to rewrite the laws for donating blood based upon these countries. Even though this is a small aspect of everyday life, each discriminatory law that is altered is a victory for the homosexual community in Europe. Democracy is an idea that has been around for years, but is still a work in progress to determine the best way to implement it. Public participation is key to any democracy, as the people of the country in discussion must be involved with the government to be heard. There is no one way to run a democracy, and this is evident when comparing different countries public participation. The UK has a long history of public involvement, and is showing progression to allow for more. They involve the citizens in many aspects of government, reaching out explicitly to obtain the public opinion on certain issues. Poland, on the other hand faces difficulties in this section because of old policies and failure to reform them. A new constitution is being worked on, but the constraints of the old one prohibit the involvement of the public in creating a new one. One of the basic rights of many countries is public involvement in the government, and this is detrimental to the success of democracy. The United Kingdom is known for its progressiveness in public involvement, and it serves as a guide for other countries looking to become more democratic. There are, however, some issues that they face when dealing with public involvement. â€Å"One of the biggest problems in UK participation today is that the focus has been on quantity rather than quality. Two common assumptions that many people hold are that ‘participation is always a good thing’ and that ‘if we build it they will come’. We often assume that there is a vast untapped reserve of active people who want to get involved.† (Bucharest, 2008). This quote is a good start on determining the UKs stance on public involvement, as it highlights the common assumptions held in the country, and underlines the issues they face when dealing with it. What the statement, â€Å"quantity over quality† refers to in this sense is that the group of people who influence governmental decisions in the UK is a small one. The ‘Audit of Political Engagement’ survey for 2007 shows that only â€Å"12% of the British population could be said to be activists and almost half had not taken part in any form of political activity (in the broadest sense) whatsoever.† (Hansard Society, 2008). This is a problem because this percentage doesnt represent the UKs people as a whole. Most of this percentage is elderly, white males with an education, and minorities are represented with just a percent. So what causes the lack of interest in policy making and government regulation? There are a few answers to this question. One is a lack of faith from the public that their voices will be heard. This can be stemmed from bad processes in law-making, making the voter feel as though the decisions have already been made before the vote happens. The system in place if run correctly is sound, but most activists will tell you that their opinions are pushed under the rug by politicians who have their own agendas. Another reason why there seems to be a lack of interest from the UKs public toward policy making is a sort of egocentric mindset that many countries have, which is the idea that if a policy doesnt affect someone personally, then they wont deem it important to them and wont get involved. This is a commonality, but what governments like the UK do is try and make the process sought after by more people. Their goal is to increase the percentage of people who vote to become more involved, which will also increase the amount of people who vote in general.